Newsletter
TMJ
Muscle fatigue and spasms in the jaw joints not only cause pain in the jaw muscles but can also lead to spams in the head and neck, migraine and cluster headaches, tooth and facial pain, ear and sinus pain, and anxiety or depression. As you chew, your upper and lower teeth come together, pushing against the skull. If you have an uneven bite, missing teeth, or improperly aligned teeth, your muscles work harder to bring the teeth together. If you clench or grind your teeth, the strain only increases. Bad posture, poor ergonomics, and head or neck trauma contribute to jaw joint pain. And pain isn't the only result. You may experience clicking when moving your jaws or feel them locking when you open or close your mouth. The National Institute of Health estimates that more than 10 million Americans have problems affecting the jaw joints and muscles. The Academy of General Dentistry reports that 1 in 8 Americans suffer from headaches, and up to 80% of these headaches are estimated to be caused by muscle tension.
You may have a poor bite if you experience any of the following:
- *You clench your jaw muscles for long periods of time.
- *When you wake up in the morning, your jaw muscles feel tired and sore to the touch.
- *You experience pain behind the eyes.
- *You grind your teeth while you are sleeping.
- *Your jaw clicks and pops upon opening.
- *Your head or scalp feels painful when you touch it.
- *Your ears ache or you hear ringing.
- *You have neck, shoulder or back pain.
- *You feel dizzy.
If you experience any of these symptoms, your dentist should thoroughly evaluate your bite to determine if it is a probable contributing factor. If so, an effective plan of treatment can be recommended
If you have any of these symptoms or need to know more, contact us today. We have over 20 years experience and have helped thousands of people with these problems. We’d be happy and honored to help you or someone you know.
Dr. James F. Otten, Dr. Steve Ratcliff